Playtest: SBP v4.0mvp - ALLIES (mike1984) vs AXIS (morshead) - PBEM

[mike1984]

I'm sending my turn to morshead in a few minutes. But this thread will be my AAR for the first playtest of the super-ultra-mega newest version of Sicily to Brenner Pass... "v4.0mvp"

Here are the changes I've implemented. This version is based off of sPzAbt653's last version, as I liked where he was going with the scenario more than I was all those years ago. He gave me his blessing to use his work for this version. I haven't written up a new full scenario description/briefings, so this is what I can think of off the top of my head as the biggest changes...

Naval Units added - Force H, and several squadrons of the Eastern and Western Task Forces. These are withdrawn as the scenario goes on, and are to be utilized in a fire-support role as they were historically. Force H should be kept farther offshore than the fire support squadrons of the task force.

Transport Disbands - Each side has disbands to activate sea (both sides) and air (Allies only) transport.

Weather conditions - A mud season is simulated twice each year, in the Spring and Autumn, hitting the theater with -10 shock for both sides, and possibly storms.

Events & OOB - Events were tuned up to reflect changes in the OOB, which needed some changes to reflect that this is a strictly PBEM-only version of Sicily to Brenner Pass.

We will be playing this using the 3xbb patch.

If I think of anything else (I'm sure I missed something) I'll add it as I go along here.

[Cfant]

Have you added more supply points for the allies at the south italian coast? It was a problem when I played a PBEM. From houserules, you had to land south of napoli. Except the most southern part of Itlay, only Salerno had a supply point. Now guess, where all the germans waited...

[mike1984]

A quick check and it does show supply points near Reggio di Calabria and near Taranto.

The playtests will double confirm that they work properly. But thanks for the [s]heart attack[/s] heads up.

ORIGINAL: Cfant2

Have you added more supply points for the allies at the south italian coast? It was a problem when I played a PBEM. From houserules, you had to land south of napoli. Except the most southern part of Itlay, only Salerno had a supply point. Now guess, where all the germans waited...

[FrankieITA]

I love to hear somebody's working on this wonderful scenario again, but I'm a little sad hearing that it's gonna be a PBEM version only.
If you are considering to look at the Italian OOB, I'd like to give advice if needed.
I agree with Cfant2, what is needed is way more supply points on the Tirrenian coast with their respective beacheads, like Salerno and Anzio are now. The number of suitable location for amphibious landings is at the moment too little, in a PBEM game it would be a real pain to get northern than Salerno without turtling northway up to the peninsula. I'm not asking for amphibious landings in Genoa or Venice, since the reasoning for not including them in the scenario is still valid (Air superiority if you ask), but I'm asking for more alternatives on the Tirrenian coast (from Salerno to Pisa) to land your amphibious attacks, since I think that in such a scenario the lack of danger from the sides is a dumbing factor for the Axis side. An Axis player would resort on entrenched lines, bogging down the allies offensive repeatedly and growing bigger and bigger going up the peninsula.
Even if I agree that's historically accurate, I would wish to sacrifice accuracy in order to give a more stimulating experience of gameplay.

[mike1984]

sPzAbt653 has a PO version, but I haven't for this because I just don't have the time. PBEM is my favorite way to play TOAW b/c there is absolutely NO way to predict what the enemy will do. It's easily the most realistic. We all know that. But I'm happy with a PBEM version only for now.

However, I will look into your suggestion for more landing options on the mainland. In my older tries at editing this scenario, I did include a few port hexes where there wasn't originally. For one example, I added a port hex at Brolo. With such a low level of sea transport available, the Allied player could only feasibly execute an end run operation like the original one at Brolo.

[sPzAbt653]

I'd be happy to scrap my Pbem version and defer to yours. I'm not a pbem'r so I wouldn't have ever tested it anyway. I will also consider any recommended changes to the PO versions, if you have any based on what you are doing Mike.

Adding extra invasion sites might be necessary for the Pbem version as the human can better react. For the PO there are currently 5 options for objective tracks, so covering the current possibilites are chore enough for Elmer.

[Cfant]

An other issue in our pbem a few years ago was, that some german recreation of evaporated units took place in allied-held territory, or in other words: it didn't take place at all At least my opponent complained about that.

[mike1984]

I did place a reconstitution hex for each side. That should help, no?

ORIGINAL: Cfant2

An other issue in our pbem a few years ago was, that some german recreation of evaporated units took place in allied-held territory, or in other words: it didn't take place at all At least my opponent complained about that.

[Cfant]

Should do fine